THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 125 



near the base of the young twigs, the middle one 

 being a leaf bud, are more likely to endure winter, 

 than the smaller and more lately formed near the 

 upper extremities. The best knowledge on this 

 subject may be gained, by a careful observation, in 

 the early part of summer, of such as have with- 

 stood the cold of the preceding winter, the same 

 buds dying, whether on the parent tree, or inserted 

 into the stocks. A high and dry soil is much bet- 

 ter than one low, rich or mucky ; and warm val- 

 leys are liable to more severe night frosts and con- 

 sequent disaster, than exposed hills. 



The same care as with the apple, is needed in 

 staking up and in trimming the growing trees. 

 Setting the trees in grass land, unless they are con- 

 stantly kept widely and deeply spaded round, is lit- 

 tle better than throwing them away. 



SOIL. 



The best soil for the peach is -a sandy loam. A 

 light soil is usually preferred ; but is not indispen- 

 sible. I have known this tree to succeed admira- 

 bly on heavy soils, when large holes were dug, (six 

 or eight feet in diameter,) and filled with loose and 

 good earth. Young peach trees, unlike the apple, 

 do not need the previous application of much ma- 

 nure. A soil too fertile, tends to promote the late 

 growth of succulent wood, unfitted to withstand the 



